Smoky Valley’s Whittacker, Bird place at state

Wednesday

Feb 27, 2013 at 10:43 AMFeb 27, 2013 at 10:44 AM

Smoky Valley High School sent two wrestlers to the medal podium Saturday at Salina’s Bicentennial Center, as Trevor Whittaker placed first and Spencer Bird third in their respective weight classes at the Class 4A state tournament.

By Chris SwickSports Editor

Smoky Valley High School sent two wrestlers to the medal podium Saturday at Salina’s Bicentennial Center, as Trevor Whittaker placed first and Spencer Bird third in their respective weight classes at the Class 4A state tournament.

Whittaker dominated the 170 pound bracket, going 4-0 on the weekend on his way to the gold.

Whittaker defeated Garnett-Anderson County’s Dallas Cox by pin and Augusta’s Jacob Hill by a 7-4 decision on Friday. Saturday, he cruised through the semifinals with an 8-1 decision over Clearwater’s Darick Jones, setting up a showdown with Colby’s Andrew Taylor in the finals.

Taylor put up a fight, but Whittaker walked away with a 6-3 decision.

Bird went 5-1 between Friday and Saturday at 160 pounds. He defeated Wellington’s Jason Haydon by a 9-3 decision and Atchison’s Tyler Harris by pinfall in 1:38 on Friday.

He was defeated in the semifinals by Andale’s Kyle Armstrong by a 6-3 decision, moving Bird into the consolation semifinals, where he pinned Holton’s Andrew Rieschick in 3:54.

That set Bird up for a rematch with Armstrong for third place, which Bird won by a 2-0 decision.

The Viking’s Weston Loder also competed on Saturday, falling in the consolation round to Osawatomie’s Matt Lofing by pinfall at 3:33.

Holton finished first as a team with 104.5 points, followed by Colby with 96 points, Andale with 90.5, Bonner Springs with 90 and LaCynge-Prairie View with 84.

The Vikings finished 12th with 49 points. McPherson had 18 team points.